Shoe last and means for holding an insole thereon



Jan. 10, 1961 R. E. MacLAUGHLlN SHOE LAST AND MEANS FOR HOLDING AN INSOLE THEREON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2]., 1959 Jan. 10, 1961 R. E. M LAUGHLIN 2,967,313

SHOE LAST AND MEANS FOR HOLDING AN INSOLE THEREON Filed Sept. 21, 1959 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 laweazior Ruben Ez laol g United States Patent O SHOE LAST AND MEANS FOR HOLDING AN INSOLE THEREON Robert E. MacLaughlin, 4 Central Ave., Rochester, N.l-I.

Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 841,417

Claims. (Cl. 12-141) I My present invention is a novel shoe last and includes a novel method of holding a shoe insole on the last bottom without utilizing tacks and without perforating the foot-contacting surface of the insole, and independently of adhesive, cement, or the like. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 688,543, filed October 7, 1957.

Important features consist in means to positively grip an insole from the surface adjacent the last bottom, said means being actuated by the action of straightening the last preparatory to assembling an upper thereon; and,

furthermore, means to release the insole automatically after the lasting operation by the simple action of breaking the last preparatory to withdrawing it from the shoe, leaving the insole incorporated within the shoe structure.

Additional important features consist in means employing a plurality of insole gripping elements which are simultaneously actuated to penetrate and grip the insole by the straightening of the last and to simplify withdrawing the same by the breaking of the last when the last is withdrawn from the shoe; and the further feature is that the plurality of insole-gripping elements are constructed and arranged in balanced relation so as to ensure the gripping and holding of the insole in correct alignment on the last bottom, and, thus, prevent displacing of the insole during the gripping action.

Heretofore it has been customary to apply an insole on a last on which the shoe is to be built by laying the insole on the last bottom and thereupon driving a plurality of tacks directly and entirely through the insole into the wood of the last to hold the insole and last together during the assembling of the upper materials thereon and the subsequent lasting operation.

Then, after the shoe is thus far constructed, the operator had to dig out and remove the insole tacks, which were often broken off and the shanks left in the insole. Also, if the head of a tack broke ofi, it was a timeconsuming and difficult operation to remove the shank, requiring a skilled operator and often resulting in missing such broken tack, or tacks, thereafter causing damage to a customer. Most shoe manufacturers carry insurance against such type of injury or damage to the customer from misplaced insole tacks, which involves considerable expense.

Numerous efforts have heretofore been made to effect a tackless attachment of an insole to a last bottom as by cement, flanged rims, or the like, but none has been satisfactory nor commercially successful so far as I am advised.

My present invention obviates the dangers and difiiculties above briefly outlined, eliminates all danger of insole tacks being left within the shoe, saves cost of insurance, and extra operations involved and, furthermore, leaves the foot-contacting surface of the insole free of scars, scrapes, or other marred portions caused by tack removal operations, as well as eliminating the requirement for refinishing the foot-contacting surface.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize any suitable type 2,967,313 Patented Jan. 10, 1961 of hinge last and form a longitudinal groove along the bottom in which I fit a trough having a central movable rack bar actuated in one direction by the breaking of a last and in the opposite direction by the straightening of the last. This rack bar is geared to a plurality of studs and rotative movement operates sets of corkscrewlike elements which penetrate the insole part way through from the last-contacting surface when the last is straightened with the insole on the last bottom, and retracts these elements when the last is broken to remove it from the shoe. Both of these operations are effected automatically by a pivoted link from the heel portion of the last to the rack bar, as will be further explained.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical hinge last in broken or shortened position on which the insole is applied;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of the last in straightened position with the gripping elements engaging the insole;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the last showing the operative devices with the cover thereof removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view, on an increased scale, of the proximate ends of the rack bar and the link to which it is pivotally connected.

Referring to the drawings, a typical hinge last is illustrated with a fore part 1 and heel part 2 united by a hinge 3, pins 5 and 6 uniting the ends of the link, respectively, to the fore part and heel part. A pivot pin 7 is also utilized in this type of knuckle joint last, as shown, passing through a transverse opening 8 in the hinge 3.

During the shoe manufacture, an insole 10 is applied to the bottom of a last, which last is positioned upside down and mounted on a jack 12 with the fore part supported by a saddle 15-15 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In accordance with my invention and by means of my improved method I also utilize a hold-down 16 on top of the insole, the inner faces of the saddle 15 and holddown 16 being of cushioning material of any suitable texture, and by my method I provide a universal joint structure as indicated at 20 on the saddle and 21 on the holddown, which are connected through suitable springs to foot treadles (not shown) so that with the insole 10 in position as shown in Fig. 2, the foot treadles may be actuated to straighten the last and bring upwardly the insole gripping elements which extend from the last bottom partly within the thickness of the insole, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, the insole penetrating and gripping elements, which may be of a corkscrew contour and are preferably four in number, are shown as extending vertically and arranged as a pair 30 and 31 and a cooperating pair 32 and 33. Each such element is attached axially to the upper end of a hollow stud 48 provided with a pinion 46 and an internal spiral groove 49. Each groove 49 receives a pin 50 exposed transversely of a stud entering stem 36.

A rack bar 40 extends between the two studs 48 of each pair of elements and has pinion-engaging teeth 45 on opposite sides for engagement with appropriate ones of the pinions 46. The elements of each pair are, accordingly, of opposite hand as are the grooves 49 of their studs 48.

The rack bar 40 has a link 41 pivotally connected thereto, as at 42, which link 41 is pivotally connected to the heel part 2 as at 44. The various parts of the mechanism are located in bottom recesses in the last and, preferably, a rectangular box 55 is fitted therein to the bottom of which the stems 36 are anchored. The rack bar 40 extends lengthwise of the box 55 and is supported at the front end thereof as by a shoulder 55. The box 55 has a cover 56 flush with the surface of the last bottom and attached as by screws 57. The cover 56 has openings 58 spaced to permit the elements and their studs to pass upwardly therethrough. The cover 56 is also provided with stops 59 engageable by the pinions 46 to limit the extent of such upward movement. The cover is also provided with a rack bar engaging bearin 60.

It will be appreciated that when a last in accordance with the invention is straightened, the rack bar 40 is thrust forwardly to rotate the pinions at each side thereof, equally but oppositely. Such rotation is attended by the upward advance of each stud relative to its stem and the penetration of the insole at appropriately spaced positions. When the last is broken, the rack bar 40 is pulled rearwardly and so rotates the pinions as to Withdraw the elements from the insole,

Any desired number or plurality of pairs of penetrating elements such as the corckscrew-like devices shown herein may be employed, but I prefer to have an insole gripping element which will make but a small opening in the surface of the insole in contact with the last bottom, meanwhile leaving the foot-contacting surface free of any objectionable mark, thus preserving its desirable finish and appearance.

Another important feature is that the hinged last, being normally shortened or broken has the points of the insole-penetrating elements withdrawn below the surface of the last bottom, and, hence, protected both from injury or damage to the points as well as preventing injury to outside articles. The lasts are thus stored and transported while in such shortened condition and are all ready to be jacked and to have the insole applied and aligned on the last bottom; whereupon the hold-down is applied, the foot treadle to the toe saddle underneath is actuated, and the last simultaneously straightened and the insolepenetrating elements rotated and elevated, all in one oper ation.

A still further advantage of my improved last construction is that praent and existing lasts can be readily grooved, the insole gripping mechanism applied, and thus my invention incorporated therein.

A still further advantage is that a new last having my invention incorporated therein is free of insole fastening tacks being driven into the last bottom, which tacks are usually applied at approximately the same places and, hence, quickly damage the wood, chewing it up, and becoming useless to hold these insole fastening tacks after a certain number of shoes have been made thereon.

I claim:

1. In a shoe last of the type having a fore part, a heel part, and a uniting hinge, said fore part having a recess in the bottom thereof, an outwardly disposed stem in said recess, a stud threaded to said stem for movement vertically relative to the last bottom and including an insole gripping element and a pinion, a rack in mesh with said pinion extending longitudinally of said recess, and a link pivotally connected to the rear end of said rack and to said heel part whereby said rack is moved rearwardly when the last is broken and forwardly when it is straightened, said threaded connection effecting the advance of said element into insole gripping position when said last is straightened.

2. In a shoe last of the type having a fore part, a heel part, and a uniting hinge, said fore part having a recess in the bottom thereof, an outwardly disposed stem in said recess, a stud threaded to said stern for movement vertically relative to the last bottom and including an insole gripping element and a pinion, a rack in mesh with said pinion and extending longitudinally of said recess, and a link pivotally connected to the rear end of said rack and to said heel part whereby said rack is moved rearwardly when the last is broken and forwardly when it is straightened, said threaded connection effecting the advance of said element into insole gripping position when said last is straightened and withdrawing said element at least to the plane of said bottom when said last is broken.

3. In a shoe last of the type having a fore part, a heel part, and a uniting hinge, said fore part having a recess in the bottom thereof, pairs of outwardly disposed laterally spaced stems in said recess, said pairs being longitudinally spaced, a stud threaded to each stern and including an insole gripping element and a pinion, a rack extending lengthwise of said recess and between the pinions of each pair, said rack having teeth on each side meshing with respective ones of said pinions, and a link pivotally connected to the rear end of said rack and to said heel part whereby said rack is moved rearwardly of the last when it is broken and forwardly when it is straightened, said threaded connections effecting the advance of said elements into insole gripping position when said last is straightened.

4. In a shoe last of the type having a fore part, a heel part, and a uniting hinge, said fore part having a recess in the bottom thereof, pairs of outwardly disposed laterally spaced stems in said recess, said pairs being longitudinally spaced, a stud threaded to each stem and ineluding an insole gripping element and a pinion, a rack extending lengthwise of said recess and between the pinions of each pair, said rack having teeth on each side meshing with respective ones of said pinions, and a link pivotally connected to the rear end of said rack and to said heel part whereby said rack is moved rearwardly of the last when it is broken and forwardly when it is straightened, said threaded connections efiecting the advance of said elements into insole gripping position when said last is straightened, and withdrawing said elements at least to the surface of said bottom when said last is broken.

5. The shoe last of claim 4 and a box anchored in the last recess, the stems are fixed. to the box bottom and the rack extends lengthwise therethrough, portions of said box engaging with opposite faces of said rack as guide bearings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 993,502 Brogan May 30, 1911 1,093,665 Weeden Apr. 21, 1914 1,191,833 Russell July 18, 1916 1,191,834 Russell July 18, 1916 1,203,609 Gordon Nov. 7, 1916 

